McHenry County Blog

I missed this when it happened in mid-September.

It’s not in McHenry County, but it’s close to the McHenry-Lake County border, so I thought you might be interested.

144 illegal aliens were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Chicago metropolitan area, defined broadly enough to include Northwestern Indiana. You can read the full release here.

The closest arrests were in Round Lake.

The only raid I remember in McHenry County was at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn.

We learned of it when a father walked into our legislative office on Manor Road behind the Shell Station on Route 14 with his infant and at least one other pre-school child. He had no idea how to cope. He had been told his wife was already on a bus to Mexico.

Separating a mother from her baby struck me as mighty poor public policy then and still does.

Fortunately my legislative assistant Pete Castillo was there to console and try to help him.

The raid apparently resulted from new management coming in who apparently called the federalies.

They threw a “Worker Appreciation Day” on a Saturday or Sunday, when most were not working.

As my legislative assistant Pete remembers the details,

“…quite a few who had arrived at that point when Holiday Inn was going to have to pay them severance and retirement benefits. (They) decided to give them the ‘cuffed behind your back, Greyhound Cruiser tour’ back to their homeland at the tax-payers expense. It was blatant corporate greed and nothing else.”

About the man I remember seeing with his children, Pete says,

“The man who came in had, if I am not mistaken, 5 children. When he came to the office he brought 3 youngsters. We helped him reunite his children with his wife who was taken in the raid. We set-up an escort (to Mexico) for him as well as for at least 3 other families. We had already helped this man relocate his wife’s stolen SS checks earlier in the year. We made a Mexican grocery store owner in C-Ville repay the stolen money.”

I then asked Pete about why she was receiving Social Security checks. His reply:

“I am not privy to that. All I know is that the checks were stolen from her mailbox by someone that was connected to the grocery store owner in C-ville. I checked with the SS guy you knew in Woodstock. I don’t remember his name. They were legitimate. She was entitled to receive them. It could have been that she was married before to an American. What do I know? I collected all the money that was stolen. I brought the statute which the store owner violated to C-ville and I promised him 10-years for each offense. He paid!”

From this description of what my legislative assistant did, all that comes to mind is he one amazing, not to mention effective, guy!

As someone has said, “The perception of power is power.”

I missed this when it happened in mid-September.

It’s not in McHenry County, but it’s close to the McHenry-Lake County border, so I thought you might be interested.

144 illegal aliens were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Chicago metropolitan area, defined broadly enough to include Northwestern Indiana. You can read the full release here.

The closest arrests were in Round Lake.

The only raid I remember in McHenry County was at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn.

We learned of it when a father walked into our legislative office on Manor Road behind the Shell Station on Route 14 with his infant and at least one other pre-school child. He had no idea how to cope. He had been told his wife was already on a bus to Mexico.

Separating a mother from her baby struck me as mighty poor public policy then and still does.

Fortunately my legislative assistant Pete Castillo was there to console and try to help him.

The raid apparently resulted from new management coming in who apparently called the federalies.

They threw a “Worker Appreciation Day” on a Saturday or Sunday, when most were not working.

As my legislative assistant Pete remembers the details,

“…quite a few who had arrived at that point when Holiday Inn was going to have to pay them severance and retirement benefits. (They) decided to give them the ‘cuffed behind your back, Greyhound Cruiser tour’ back to their homeland at the tax-payers expense. It was blatant corporate greed and nothing else.”

About the man I remember seeing with his children, Pete says,

“The man who came in had, if I am not mistaken, 5 children. When he came to the office he brought 3 youngsters. We helped him reunite his children with his wife who was taken in the raid. We set-up an escort (to Mexico) for him as well as for at least 3 other families. We had already helped this man relocate his wife’s stolen SS checks earlier in the year. We made a Mexican grocery store owner in C-Ville repay the stolen money.”

I then asked Pete about why she was receiving Social Security checks. His reply:

“I am not privy to that. All I know is that the checks were stolen from her mailbox by someone that was connected to the grocery store owner in C-ville. I checked with the SS guy you knew in Woodstock. I don’t remember his name. They were legitimate. She was entitled to receive them. It could have been that she was married before to an American. What do I know? I collected all the money that was stolen. I brought the statute which the store owner violated to C-ville and I promised him 10-years for each offense. He paid!”

From this description of what my legislative assistant did, all that comes to mind is he one amazing, not to mention effective, guy!

As someone has said, “The perception of power is power.”

I’m confused.

I thought the McHenry County Democratic Party moved its annual Jefferson Day Dinner last spring from Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn to Sun City’s Prairie Lodge to protest the Holiday Inn’s not having workers who belonged to a labor union.

It just occurred to me that last night McHenry County Democrats gathered at the same Holiday Inn to watch U.S. Senator Barack Obama accept his party’s nomination for president.

But, I’m confused.

Why was it unacceptable to hold the Thomas Jefferson Day Dinner at the Holiday Inn this past spring, but it is OK to hold the Barack Obama nomination blow-out there a couple of months later?

One holdout from the McHenry County Dem party is Dave Bachmann, candidate for McHenry County Coroner.

Bachmann provided this statement to McHenry County Blog:

“Strong ‘Core Beliefs’ are not beliefs that you stand on from time to time based on a ‘Political Wind’ or for photo or press opportunities.

“The facts that caused the McHenry County Democratic party to pull out of its plans for its annual Jefferson Dinner Party Fundraiser to be held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn are still in play today.

“It is ‘unconscionable’ to me that Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the McHenry County Democratic Party Chair, has shifted her position, so soon and so easily, by supporting this Historic Event being held at a facility she just months ago chastised for its lack of supporting a Democratic cause.

“She allowed the official McHenry County Democratic web sight as access for publication of this incredible, historic national event. The same web sight, just four short months ago, she utilized to publicize her distaste for the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn venue.

“This election is about Integrity and standing firm on core beliefs that the American workers should be supported unconditionally.” Bachmann stated.”Rather than sacrifice my core beliefs and values towards our hard working American men and women, I will not attend this event.”

I confirmed that the Holiday Inn is still a non-union employer.

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Any image can be enlarged by clicking on it.

I’m confused.

I thought the McHenry County Democratic Party moved its annual Jefferson Day Dinner last spring from Crystal Lake’s Holiday Inn to Sun City’s Prairie Lodge to protest the Holiday Inn’s not having workers who belonged to a labor union.

It just occurred to me that last night McHenry County Democrats gathered at the same Holiday Inn to watch U.S. Senator Barack Obama accept his party’s nomination for president.

But, I’m confused.

Why was it unacceptable to hold the Thomas Jefferson Day Dinner at the Holiday Inn this past spring, but it is OK to hold the Barack Obama nomination blow-out there a couple of months later?

One holdout from the McHenry County Dem party is Dave Bachmann, candidate for McHenry County Coroner.

Bachmann provided this statement to McHenry County Blog:

“Strong ‘Core Beliefs’ are not beliefs that you stand on from time to time based on a ‘Political Wind’ or for photo or press opportunities.

“The facts that caused the McHenry County Democratic party to pull out of its plans for its annual Jefferson Dinner Party Fundraiser to be held at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn are still in play today.

“It is ‘unconscionable’ to me that Kathy Bergan Schmidt, the McHenry County Democratic Party Chair, has shifted her position, so soon and so easily, by supporting this Historic Event being held at a facility she just months ago chastised for its lack of supporting a Democratic cause.

“She allowed the official McHenry County Democratic web sight as access for publication of this incredible, historic national event. The same web sight, just four short months ago, she utilized to publicize her distaste for the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn venue.

“This election is about Integrity and standing firm on core beliefs that the American workers should be supported unconditionally.” Bachmann stated.”Rather than sacrifice my core beliefs and values towards our hard working American men and women, I will not attend this event.”

I confirmed that the Holiday Inn is still a non-union employer.

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Any image can be enlarged by clicking on it.

McHenry County Democrats have issued the following press release about the big party tonight at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake:

Crystal Lake—McHenry County Democrats will gather tonight at watch parties to celebrate with the 70,000 people at Denver’s INVESCO Field as Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President of the United States.

Many of the county’s leading Democrats including Illinois General Assembly, county wide, and County Board candidates will be at the Crystal Party Bar at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake, 800 South Three Oaks Road. The party will open up at 7:30. The celebration is sponsored by Northwest Suburbs for Obama.

The same grass roots organization will team up with the Melissa Bean for Congress campaign to host another party at Dock’s Bar and Grill, 113 E. Liberty St. (Rt. 176) in Wauconda.

Becky Deignan will hold a house party at her Cary home, at 10 Boxwood Lane.

The three parties are among thousands nationwide organized on the Obama for President campaign’s unique inter-active social networking web site my.barack.obama.com. People can log on, enter a local zip code, find parties in their area and register to attend for free.

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And to explain the graphic, Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter has suggested the McHenry County Board adopt Dick Tracy as the center of its county seal. The two photos above were found in his story,

I agree, because it is distinction and would provide instant differentiation from all other county seals.

And, can you think of anything that epitomizes McHenry County?

If I could, I’d put it on the masthead of McHenry County Blog.

The county could even turn county offices into tourist traps by selling copies of the county seal that were different (that is, authentic) from those merchandised by local stores.

In a fit of inspiration after Barack Obama showcased his personal campaign seal, Showalter thought maybe Obama might try out his suggestion as well.

Perhaps a well-connected McHenry County Democrat could get through to him.

McHenry County Democrats have issued the following press release about the big party tonight at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake:

Crystal Lake—McHenry County Democrats will gather tonight at watch parties to celebrate with the 70,000 people at Denver’s INVESCO Field as Barack Obama accepts the nomination for President of the United States.

Many of the county’s leading Democrats including Illinois General Assembly, county wide, and County Board candidates will be at the Crystal Party Bar at the Holiday Inn Crystal Lake, 800 South Three Oaks Road. The party will open up at 7:30. The celebration is sponsored by Northwest Suburbs for Obama.

The same grass roots organization will team up with the Melissa Bean for Congress campaign to host another party at Dock’s Bar and Grill, 113 E. Liberty St. (Rt. 176) in Wauconda.

Becky Deignan will hold a house party at her Cary home, at 10 Boxwood Lane.

The three parties are among thousands nationwide organized on the Obama for President campaign’s unique inter-active social networking web site my.barack.obama.com. People can log on, enter a local zip code, find parties in their area and register to attend for free.

= = = = =
And to explain the graphic, Heck of a Guy blogger Allan Showalter has suggested the McHenry County Board adopt Dick Tracy as the center of its county seal. The two photos above were found in his story,

I agree, because it is distinction and would provide instant differentiation from all other county seals.

And, can you think of anything that epitomizes McHenry County?

If I could, I’d put it on the masthead of McHenry County Blog.

The county could even turn county offices into tourist traps by selling copies of the county seal that were different (that is, authentic) from those merchandised by local stores.

In a fit of inspiration after Barack Obama showcased his personal campaign seal, Showalter thought maybe Obama might try out his suggestion as well.

Perhaps a well-connected McHenry County Democrat could get through to him.